why do we love the daylily?

Dazzling and Diverse

Over four millennia ago, Chinese oral tradition said that what we know today as the genus Hemerocallis was used both for medicinal purposes as well as food from its buds and roots. Over two millennia ago, Confucius first documented it in a poem. The plants remained mostly used for their medicinal properties until brought to Europe in the 1500s.
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Why Grow Daylilies?

New Garden Palette Each Day

Yes, each flower really only lasts ONE DAY. The word Hemerocallis is derived from two Greek words meaning “beauty” and “day.” The flowering period of an established clump is usually several weeks long. Many cultivars have more than one flowering period! Although not required, many gardeners prefer to “deadhead” spent blooms each day so the plantings look clean and new blooms are able to open unobstructed.

All Colors of the Rainbow

Since the early 1930s, hybridizers throughout the world have made great improvements in daylilies. Originally, the only colors were yellow, orange, and rusty red. Today, we have colors ranging from near-whites, pastels, yellows, oranges, pinks, vivid reds, green, deep crimson, purple, neon pink, nearly true-blue, and many fabulous blends and eye-popping multi-colored patterns.

Diversity in Size, Color & Form

Daylilies offer a wide range of bloom sizes, scape height and bloom time. By carefully selecting plants, daylilies will show off in the garden from early May to late October, depending on zone. Some blooms can reach 15” across, while some daylilies grow to be over 60” tall. A trio of daylilies in various sizes and shapes planted together in a mixed bed provides a firework of color throughout the season, while maintaining a good foliage structure.

Easy to Obtain, Grow & Propagate

There are dozens of reliable sources available for every budget and taste through the American Daylily Society Source List and local daylily clubs. Daylilies can thrive in most ordinary top soils without any required fertilizing or insect control measures. Daylily cultivars will generally multiply each year forming a robust clump of fans rather than dying out over time. Additionally, modern varieties do not encroach upon other plants and spread into unwanted areas — they’re perfectly behaved perennials.

Show off!

Entering A Daylily Exhibition

The American Daylily Society mission statement includes the desire to provide the general public with education and exposure to the daylily. To help with this mission, members and local daylily groups choose to host daylily shows. Entering a show is fun, and winning is an art. Let us help you be more successful at both!